Molinari, Harrington & Donald

[Troy]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

Personally, I'd have picked casey over harrington. That said, every player knows what they have to do to qualify and if you don't get in automatically, you have no right to expect a wild card. I don't buy into the notion that you merit a wilcard more because you support the European tour but the bottom line is that casey would probably have got into the team automatically if he'd played in the Czech open and johnny walker championship. He chose not to and I wouldn't criticize him for that but neither would I expect him to complain about not getting a pick.

 

[thecraw]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

Whats all this sentimental pish for Casey all about? The guy has also had a stinker of a year. Casey is mo world beater, far from it in fact. He like the rest chose to chase the money in the states instead of putting in a heroic effort like Molinari and Hanson did to make the team on merit.

Casey blew up against an inexperienced leader in this years Open, he fell apart like a comic dropped into the bath, played like a complete and utter coo! He got to the final of the accenture world match play and played like a coo there too. He has done nothing of note this year and deserves what he got. Overlooked.

Rose on the other hand has won twice on US soil and been runner up. Rose has a lot more to feel hard done by than Casey.

Donald is the pick that surprised me. He's a short knock and if the 2010 course is wet I fear he will really struggle. Donald to be fair at least committed more time to European Tour Golf.

Molinari will form a decent partnership with Molinari.

 

[crispee78]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

i feel the need to point out the fact that in your first paragraph you claim casey's had a stinker of a year. then in the next you mention he played in the final group at the open and made the final of the world matchplay (a format the ryder cup is played in i hasten to add) not to mention top 15 in the last major. Are you seriously telling me youd sooner have (world no 48) peter hanson?

its all irrelevant now but what needs looking at is the qualification system, we either go with the rankings or the tour results but we cant go with both because as it stands we have half a team picked from the premier league and half a team picked from the championship.

i appologize if this view upsets anyones patriotic sensibilities, its just the way i see it thats all.

 

[Yerman]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

Casey and Molinari were told what they needed to do, Molinari did it superbly and got in, Casey went chasing dollars -out and rightly so.

 

[USER1999]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

What's wrong with chasing dollars? You wouldn't? Come on, the guys have to earn a living. The better players qualify for the Fed Ex, it's just the way it is. If you don't want them on your team, fine, you just have a weaker team.

 

[Tiger]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

I've said it before the qualifying criteria is pish. That said the players knew it two years ago and have prioritised their schedules accordingly. As such they can't feel hard done by if they haven't made it. Having said that Tiger Woods has hardly set the RC on fire even when he's been ripping it up at the Majors. If the RC was that important there would be more matchplay events on the schedule that would count more toward RC points. It's a sponsors showpiece but now the selection is final I'm just hoping the team gel together and put in a top performance and if Sergio sorts his head out that would be an added bonus.

 

[pokerjoke]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

Im happy with the whole team and certainly believe it has the potential to win.Monty did warn players they would not be included if they didnt play at Gleneagles and someone was always going to miss out,so well done Monty and sticking to your word.I think its great that Garcia is involved hes so pasionate about spanking the yanks,it ould also relax him and he could come back a new player,im hoping as he is great to watch when playing with a smile on his face.

 

[DCB]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

The Team has formed over a 51 week period. To be sure of a place in it, any player had to play well, consistently and rack up the points.

They all new the criteria so they all have to live with the decisions they made with their playing schedules.

Given Monty's backroom team, I think there will have been a fair amount of discussion as to who the three wild cards were going to be.

Maybe next time around, there will be a little more focus on their schedules in the qualifying year by some players

 

[Snelly]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

What's wrong with chasing dollars? Nothing if you need them but when you are a multi-millionaire thanks to the start you were given on the European tour, then surely it isn't too much to ask to plan a schedule around the pre-defined selection criteria? Criteria that has been clearly understood for 2 years?

Basically, several players have chosen FedEx money over glory in the Ryder Cup and in my view, their approach is appalling. They have more money than they could ever spend and are totally secure financially so where is the hardship in giving their home tour some support and playing in the events they need to to ensure they qualify on merit?

For me, this shows how far these guys have moved from their roots and their attitude makes them more akin to the spirit that drives modern Premiership footballers rather than the great European golfers of the past. My view is that they have let the European Tour down and placed the Captain in an impossible position.

Very poor from Casey, Donald, Harrington and Rose. They should have done what they needed to do in order to get a place in the Ryder Cup on merit, if they wanted to play in it that is.............

Anyway, no use crying over spilt milk. The team is picked and I am looking forward to seeing them do the business. I will be watching the TV with mates at Royal County Down on the Sunday and am looking forward to seeing Harrington win his match so I can toast him with a Jamesons!

Snelly

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

Worried about Donalds lack of length and can see that being a real handicap if he plays in the foursomes. Hopefully he won't have to and can rely on a partner more in the 4BBB. Not convinced about him one or one either but he's in so good luck to him and everyone else on the team

 

[brendy]

Re: Molinari, Harrington & Donald

crying over spilt milk. The team is picked and I am looking forward to seeing them do the business. I will be watching the TV with mates at Royal County Down on the Sunday and am looking forward to seeing Harrington win his match so I can toast him with a Jamesons!

Snelly

good luck with getting into the clubhouse for the day, that place is like a posh fort knox.

 

[Imurg]

Nodoby has yet mentioned the possibility that the Fed-Ex 4 were actually chasing World Ranking points and that the money, although important, not the primary factor.

As has been said, these guys have enough money. Their focus is winning Majors and getting high up the rankings.

The Ryder Cup is an exhibition match Plenty of kudos but no ranking points.

 

[birdieman]

Valid points on all sides. My take would be try to get the strongest team possible as this is a good American side they have to beat.

The current system, imo, does not select the 12 strongest players.

In whatever way, that issue perhaps needs to be addressed.

Like it or not the US tour offers bigger winnings and an easier life on tour through less travelling.

Most sports have one primary tour for professionals, golf tries to have 2 which works to a point but top players are always going to be tempted by bigger prize money and less travelling so many go to the States. The European Tour does act as a feeder tour for the US tour for many pros.

Telling European players that every second year they need to give that up to come back and play in Europe just to get more RC qualifying points is short sighted at best.
Saying players are already wealthy and therefore they don't need the money is not valid imo.


Good luck to the Europeans selected regardless.

 

[jammydodger]

Qialifying has changed somewhat from a few years ago though hasnt it ? There was a time when no-one from Europe played over in America except in the majors or WGC. This meant that all our best players played the Euro tour and consequently usually topped the money list. Hence the Captain could just pick lesser players who were much of a muchness (Coltart etc etc)good players but not world beaters and he could have picked any number of such players and it wouldnt have made any difference to the team.

These days with some of our players basing themselves in USA and finally starting to win some events and contend regularly it means that our automatic qualifiers arent quite such world players , ie Hanson,Fisher etc (neither would have gained a pick if they hadnt qualified) Of course they deserve their place and i'm sure they may pick up a point or two.

I have no problem with the make up of the team as the qualifying process has thrown these players to the top of it. We may have 'better' players left out but its not the end of the world and everyone will be giving it 100% and we should get behind them. Of course we'd all like to see Rose or Casey in the team and we'd all like to have seen a Garcia in and playing well too but life goes on.

I will still be glued to the TV for 3 days and enjoying every minute of it , as long a we win that is

 

[iwtuk]

Valid points on all sides. My take would be try to get the strongest team possible as this is a good American side they have to beat.

The current system, imo, does not select the 12 strongest players.

In whatever way, that issue perhaps needs to be addressed.

Like it or not the US tour offers bigger winnings and an easier life on tour through less travelling.

Most sports have one primary tour for professionals, golf tries to have 2 which works to a point but top players are always going to be tempted by bigger prize money and less travelling so many go to the States. The European Tour does act as a feeder tour for the US tour for many pros.

Telling European players that every second year they need to give that up to come back and play in Europe just to get more RC qualifying points is short sighted at best.
Saying players are already wealthy and therefore they don't need the money is not valid imo.


Good luck to the Europeans selected regardless.

I couldn't agree more. Choosing the strongest possible side is paramount, and I for one believe that the current set-up does not allow for that. Playing on the European simply to gain points surely doesn't allow for the best players to be selected (unless of course, EVERYONE played it)?

Anyway, good luck to all the lads, can't wait for the clash to start!

 

[JT77]

Not sure I get the concern over Donald's length, he finished 3rd at the wales open at -10 for 4 rounds, so must have done something right!

 

[Farneyman]

Delighted that Paddy made the team. It will add a bit of ectra interest for me when it starts.

Molinari has hit some great from over the last 15-18 months and the fact he will play with his brother will be good to watch.

Donald I could or leave. I thought Rose may have got the nod over Donald and Casey.

Apparently Casey is not well liked by the Americans or many of the Europeans. This may of course be only hearsay but it may also have had an influence on Mouthys pick.

 

[freddielong]

The only way to get the strongest possible team is 12 picks otherwise you are going to get guys in there on merit, who have since gone of the boil a bit.

For me the only suprise is Donald instead of Casey, but Donald has a very good Walker cup and Ryder cup record

 

[thecraw]

Delighted that Paddy made the team. It will add a bit of ectra interest for me when it starts.

Molinari has hit some great from over the last 15-18 months and the fact he will play with his brother will be good to watch.

Donald I could or leave. I thought Rose may have got the nod over Donald and Casey.

Apparently Casey is not well liked by the Americans or many of the
Europeans. This may of course be only hearsay but it may also have had an influence on Mouthys pick.

Its been pretty well hushed up but there are very strong rumours that Casey almost walked out during the last Ryder Cup. I'm not sure of the exact details but I believe he was talked into staying after a bust up about not playing.

This did not sit well with his team mates however it also had a lot tp do with Faldo.

 

[Aztecs27]

Wow. What a let down! How Casey wasn't picked, I'll never know. He must have really pissed Monty off with choosing to not play in the Johnnie Walker.

Oh well, still a good team I suppose.